Writing instrument



July 10, 1956 E. A. Boss WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 19, 1954 Km0 TN W fs Nhvunmv mw a -ls ldhwllllilillllslll .fr l

INVENToR. ELLERY A. BOSS ATTORN EYS United States Patent() 2,753,844 WRITING INSTRUMENT Ellery A. Boss, Edgewood, R. I., assigner to A. T. Cross Pencil Company, a corporationof Rhode Island Application January 19, 1954, Serial No. 404,835 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-42.03)

This invention relates to a writing instrument and more particularly to the mechanical mechanism used to extract a marking device.

An object of the invention is to improve upon the coustruction of writing instruments, particularly by the reduction inthe diameter thereof.

-Another object of "the invention -is .to provide a writing instrument which -is adapted -to extract and retract a ball point pen cart-ridge which is removably received in one pa-rt thereof.

A more specific object of the invention is lto provide in a writing ins-trument a central ltube in two sections that slide relative to each other, one of said parts having driving tension applied to it, the other of said parts being driven for rotation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be lmore fully described and particularly pointed out in ythe `appended claims.

In the yaccomp anying drawings:

Figure l is a sectional View taken through the body of the writing instrument;

-Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the sliding engagement of the upper section of the central tube with the lower section thereof;

Figure '3 is a perspective view of the outer engaging sleeve; and Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken through .the body of the writing instrument showing the sliding joint between the -two sections of the central tube and the driving helix.

In proceeding with the invention, I provide an outer casing and mount therein 'a .central tube with a lower section to which there is attached a point assembly having a bore therethrough. Surrounding this lower section there is slidably received a boss land a helical spring tensioning device extending between the boss and an abutment on the lower section, the upper end thereof being provided with a hexagonal female socket which is adapted to receive a hexagonal male plug of the upper section of 4the centr-al tube. The upper section carries the ball point cartridge and has a helical recess along a portion thereof. Surrounding this entire assembly .and extending from `the boss on the lower section is 'an external sleeve that Vis provided with helical projections `adapted to engage the helical recesses in the upper section.

Referring to the drawings, the writing instrument is provided with a casing which encloses the extracting mechanism and is provided with an upper portion 11 of Ithe same diameter thereof which forms a cap, a clip 12 being `fastened to the upper portion 11 so as to retain the instrument in the owners pocket. Within the lower end of the casing 10 there is provided a point bushing 13 having a bore therethrough, 4the bore being adapted to frictionally engage .and hold -the lower section 14 of a lcentral tube. Surrounding the lower section 14 is a boss 1'5 which is 'adapted to rotate thereon. Spaced from the boss 15 is a washer 16 that is held in position on the section 14 by a dimple 17, and extending be-tween P i 1C@ 2,753,844

the boss and washer 16 is a helical iiat spring 18 which provides a longitudinal tension between the bushing 13. and washer 16. Non-metallic washers '19 and 20 encircle tube `section 14 between boss 15 and bushing 13 and are provided to prevent the rubbing of metal to metal parts. The lower end of lthe bore in bushing 13 is threaded as at 21 and is adapted to receive a inished point 22 which is provided with a bore therethrough and a seat 23 which is adapted to engage 1a portion of `the writing cartridge or stylus 24. The point is also shouldered at 22 to engage the casing 10 and draw the bushing 13 into its tapered end.

To the upper end of vthe lower section-14 there is afiixed a hexagonal shaped socket 25. This socket;is adapted to receive a -male hexagonal plug 26 which is aixed to the lower end of the upper section 27 of the central tube. This upper section 27 is provided with a boss 28 having a helical slot 28 and `a threaded portion 29 which is `adapted to receive the threaded cap 30 et the writing cartridge 24, the writing cartridge24 being frictionally received in the cap 30 `as at v31. An outer sleeve 32 surrounds the parts just described and has an end portion 32a that frictionally Iengages the boss 15 so as to rotate therewith. This engagement may be eiected by providing serrations on the boss 15 or by other means. The sleeve 32 is provided with helical indenta-tions 33 which, as will be seen by referring to Figures 1 and 4, are adapted to mate with the helical slot 28 in boss Ztl. Surrounding the sleeve 32 is an outer -boss 34 which is adapted to frictionally eng-age the cap 11 bu-t rotate freely within the lcasing 1&3. It will thus be seen that when the cap 11 is rotated relative to the main casing 10, the sleeve 32 will rotate relative yto the central tube 14, 27 which is held tixed in the point assembly 13, 22. This action will move the section 27 land the writing instrument 24 longitudinally of the entire casing, the hexagonal means 25, 26 sliding one within the other. As has been described, the tensioning spring 18 provides friction between the bushing 13 and .the central tube section 14 so that a certain force must be applied to rotate the section 14 relative to boss 15. This resistance is transmitted to section 27 through coupling 25, 26 so .that once the writing instrument 24 has been extracted or retracted to a certain position, it will tend to remain there Without the provision of any external means and under normal writing pressure will not retract into the casing.

Iclaim:

1. In a writing instrument, a .propelling mechanism comprising a central tube in two sections disposed longitudinally of each other, means keying said sections together for sliding movement `therebetween and common rotary movement, a sleeve `surrounding said sections helical thread means on said sleeve, helical thread mean: on one of said sections, said thread means engaging on another, a writing stylus coupled t-o one of said sections said other tube section having an abutment, a -boss sur rounding said other .section yieldingly urged against sait abutment, said sleeve coupled to said boss to preven relative longitudinal mov-ement relative to said -one o said sections, tand means to rotate said central tube rela tive .to said sleeve .to slide said one of said section relative to the other thereby extracting `or retracting sai stylus.

2. In a writing instrument as in claim 1 wherein sai keying means comprises a female hexagonal socket a xed to one section and a male hexagonal plug aixe to `the other section.

`3. In a writing instrument as in claim 1 wherein sa helical `thread means comprises a helical slot formed l one of said sections and a helical projection extendii inwardly from said sleeve.

4. A writing instrument having a casing in two par Patented July 10, 19,56

that are Iadapted for relative rotation, a point assembly having a bore therethrough secured in one of said parts, a `central tube in two sections disposed longitudinally of each other, rneans keying said sections together for sliding movement therebetween and .common rotary movement, one of said tube sections being secured to said point assembly, said one of said tube sections carrying a boss that is yieldingly urged against said point assembly, the other of said tube sections carrying a helical thread, a sleeve surrounding said tube seotions .and `coupled to said |boss to prevent longitudinal movement relative to said one of said tube sections, helical thread means on s aid sleeve, said sleeve thread means engaging the thread means on said other tube section, said other part of said casing being coupled to said sleeve and a writing cartridge coupled to said other of said tube sections and extending within said central tube and the bore in said point References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,150,068 Schroeder Aug. 17, 1915 2,516,938 Aimes Aug. l, 1950 2,565,556 Gruber Aug. 28, 1951 2,595,001 Sams et al Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 572,616 France Feb. 23, 1924 976,412 France Oct. 25, 1950 

